How Southampton use Staplewood to remind playing stars of club history

Have you ever wondered what it looks like behind the scenes at a professional club's elite-level training ground?

Saints have been at their Staplewood Campus base for nearly a decade with the site only growing over time.

The Daily Echo undertook a tour of the facilities to show how the club hopes to inspire the next generation of Saints.

Join us for a look behind the curtain, as we walk you through Staplewood Campus...

Academy Village

Daily Echo: The tour begins with the entrance to the academy village The tour begins with the entrance to the academy village (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Southampton still recognise last season's under-21 winners Southampton still recognise last season's under-21 winners (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Academy offices are housed in outbuildings in the facility Academy offices are housed in outbuildings in the facility (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Southampton's club manifesto is written on the wall Southampton's club manifesto is written on the wall (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Reminders of Southampton's club values also adorn the walls Reminders of Southampton's club values also adorn the walls (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Academy changing rooms are named after the club's stadiums Academy changing rooms are named after the club's stadiums (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: A mural to some of Southampton's academy legends decorates the academy canteen A mural to some of Southampton's academy legends decorates the academy canteen (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The room also features a selection of past youth player awards, including Gareth Bale The room also features a selection of past youth player awards, including Gareth Bale (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Do you recognise anyone? Do you recognise anyone? (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Small catering area assigned to younger academy groups in the canteen room Small catering area assigned to younger academy groups in the canteen room (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: An apt example to Southampton's current youngsters An apt example to Southampton's current youngsters (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The academy boot store leads out to the training pitches The academy boot store leads out to the training pitches (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: These changing rooms are named after two of the club's most successful academy graduates - Luke Shaw and Gareth Bale These changing rooms are named after two of the club's most successful academy graduates - Luke Shaw and Gareth Bale (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: An overview of the main academy training pitch - currently frozen and being treated. Some of the buildings we have just walked through are seen in the background An overview of the main academy training pitch - currently frozen and being treated. Some of the buildings we have just walked through are seen in the background (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The grandstand pitch - this is where Southampton's academy and women's matches at Staplewood are played The grandstand pitch - this is where Southampton's academy and women's matches at Staplewood are played (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Southampton's club crest adorns almost every building or wall at Staplewood Southampton's club crest adorns almost every building or wall at Staplewood (Image: Daily Echo)

The Dome

Daily Echo: Next up - the dome. Next up - the dome. (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Entering the dome, we are heading towards the Markus Liebherr Pavillion in the background Entering the dome, we are heading towards the Markus Liebherr Pavillion in the background (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: It looks bigger on the inside It looks bigger on the inside (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The dome is also the home of the weekly staff vs media football matches - Russell Martin and his coaches participate The dome is also the home of the weekly staff vs media football matches - Russell Martin and his coaches participate (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The club's colours add vibrancy to the dome The club's colours add vibrancy to the dome (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: There is even a small gym inside, used primarily for activation ahead of sessions There is even a small gym inside, used primarily for activation ahead of sessions (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Just outside the dome is a secondary pitch for the first team - this is not the primary base Just outside the dome is a secondary pitch for the first team - this is not the primary base (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Kit store unit to service the secondary pitch Kit store unit to service the secondary pitch (Image: Daily Echo)

Markus Liebherr Pavillion

Daily Echo: We're now walking up to the first team's main training pitch We're now walking up to the first team's main training pitch (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: This is what academy youngsters called up to train with Martin's side will see as they complete their journey from the academy village This is what academy youngsters called up to train with Martin's side will see as they complete their journey from the academy village (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Although the pitch was not in use, we are still having to walk around Although the pitch was not in use, we are still having to walk around (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: A view of the training pitch from behind a goal in the corner A view of the training pitch from behind a goal in the corner (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Good organisation in the first team store cupboard Good organisation in the first team store cupboard (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The view from the steps Southampton's players and staff use to enter the training pitch The view from the steps Southampton's players and staff use to enter the training pitch (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Players will pick up their GPS trackers from this wall Players will pick up their GPS trackers from this wall (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Southampton's youngsters will still clean the senior pro's boots here when they step up to the first team Southampton's youngsters will still clean the senior pro's boots here when they step up to the first team (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: What it looks like beyond the door What it looks like beyond the door (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The last quote Saints players see on their way out to training The last quote Saints players see on their way out to training (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: What did you think a professional boot room looked like? You can see each player's number What did you think a professional boot room looked like? You can see each player's number (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Through the door into the Markus Liebherr Pavillion - the senior and under-21 changing rooms are located on his corridor Through the door into the Markus Liebherr Pavillion - the senior and under-21 changing rooms are located on his corridor (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Southampton's new gym - opened in 2022 Southampton's new gym - opened in 2022 (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: This is where the real magic happens - this is the kit office, with six staff working full-time out of it This is where the real magic happens - this is the kit office, with six staff working full-time out of it (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: A look at Will Smallbone's kit, printed with three football stickers for his three goals - an idea inspired by collegiate football in USA A look at Will Smallbone's kit, printed with three football stickers for his three goals - an idea inspired by collegiate football in USA (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: The kit staff are supported by three vans - the staff and player car park is visible in the background The kit staff are supported by three vans - the staff and player car park is visible in the background (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Up next - the academy dining room, which is also used by the women's team and non first team staff Up next - the academy dining room, which is also used by the women's team and non first team staff (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: It is not too bad at all - staff will sometimes have meetings with academy players in here It is not too bad at all - staff will sometimes have meetings with academy players in here (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: It also doubles as a pretty snazzy hangout room It also doubles as a pretty snazzy hangout room (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Covering the wall are names of Saints academy graduates - from Matt Le Tissier and Rod Wallace to Will Smallbone and Jack Stephens Covering the wall are names of Saints academy graduates - from Matt Le Tissier and Rod Wallace to Will Smallbone and Jack Stephens (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Words from Southampton's greatest player Words from Southampton's greatest player (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Making your senior debut might just get you put up on the wall Making your senior debut might just get you put up on the wall (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: A view of the training pitch from the dining room A view of the training pitch from the dining room (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Through here is the first team dining room - out the other side is Martin's office and a number of executive rooms, including the office of Sport Republic Through here is the first team dining room - out the other side is Martin's office and a number of executive rooms, including the office of Sport Republic (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Sadly, our tour takes us down to reception of the Markus Liebherr Pavillion - this is where us media come every week for Martin's press conferences Sadly, our tour takes us down to reception of the Markus Liebherr Pavillion - this is where us media come every week for Martin's press conferences (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Markus Liebherr's scarf and a plaque in his honour still hangs on the wall Markus Liebherr's scarf and a plaque in his honour still hangs on the wall (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: In addition, all players and staff walk past last season's Under-21 Premier League trophy daily In addition, all players and staff walk past last season's Under-21 Premier League trophy daily (Image: Daily Echo) Daily Echo: Thank you for joining us on our walk through Staplewood! Thank you for joining us on our walk through Staplewood! (Image: Daily Echo)